Headlines
- The RS President, Biljana Plavsic, and Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik, met with senior officials of the Russian Federation
- Members of the B&H Presidency and NATO Secretary General in Sarajevo: talks about refugees, role of SFOR and elections
- Pre-electoral silence started in the RS and B&H Federation
- Situation In Kosovo calmer
- Yevgeni Primakov- new Prime Minister of the Russian Federation
0:30
The newly appointed Russian Prime Minister, Yevgeni Primakov today received the RS President, Biljana Plavsic, and Prime Minister Dodik during the second day of their official visit to Moscow. They discussed the elections, refugees issues and the Kosovo crisis. Afterwards the RS delegation was received by the Principal Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igor Ivanov, and the Mayor of Moscow and discussed economic cooperation of the RS with Russia. They reached a concrete economic agreement on the employment of 2,000 workers from the RS in construction sites in Russia.
3:00
The NATO Secretary General, Javier Solana, the NATO Commander for Europe, Wesley Clark, and the NATO Commander for B&H, Eric Shinseki, talked today in Sarajevo to the B&H Presidency members, including the member from the RS in the B&H Presidency, Momcilo Krajisnik who, after the meeting, expressed gratitude to SFOR soldiers for everything they had done for the Dayton Agreement implementation. The NATO officials held a press conference in the OSCE press centre in Sarajevo. Javier Solana stated that after elections the return of refugees would become a priority.
2:00
The pre-electoral silence is in progress in the RS and B&H Federation: 883 polling stations will be opened in the RS tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. The Local Electoral Commission today received the “material” from the OSCE. The President of the LEC, Danica Bozic, stated that 130,000 people from Banja Luka were registered to vote in the elections, adding that in the Banja Luka area there were two polling stations intended for voters from abroad, i.e. refugees – in Karanovac and Misin Han.
1:30
Carlos Westendorp, the High Representative to B&H, sent a message to the citizens of B&H, saying that the elections are the best way to correct mistakes and to stop the ethnic divisions in society.
0:15
At a press conference of international organisations held today in Banja Luka, the OSCE spokesperson, Paul Hockinos, stated that he was convinced that the following elections would be the best elections ever held in B&H. He commended the SRT for successfully organised political debates and informed the press about other details related to the elections. Alun Roberts, the IPTF Spokesperson, stated that the IPTF would control the Banja Luka and Bihac area and that full freedom of movement would be ensured.
1:50
Announced with great optimism and introduced 2 months ago, the B&H KM is still a symbolic mean of payment in Srpska. Enterprises mostly use the dinar and DM and in stores where turnover amounts to 300,000 – 400,000 DM, the share of the B&H KM is less than 5%.
The problem is deepened due to the existence of the black market, in which the B&H KM is seriously lagging behind the German currency.
1:30
EU representatives and representatives of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Communications in the Council of Ministers today met with the local authorities in Bijeljina. The reconstruction of the Raca bridge that connects the RS with Serbia was discussed.
0:50
The President of the United Women of B&H in Banja Luka, Mrs. Nada Golubovic, with her colleagues, held a press conference in Banja Luka today. They spoke about the participation of women in politics, public life, etc.
0:30